Update: Woman Struck By Lightning On Life Support

Update: Woman Struck By Lightning On Life Support

07/28/2012 12:31 AM

A Jessamine County Woman was struck by lightning while working on her farm about 4 miles southeast of Wilmore. Kathlyn Friend and her son were outside in an open field, laying pipes in the ground as part of a water line for the cattle.

A Jessamine County Woman was struck by lightning while working on her farm about 4 miles southeast of Wilmore.

Kathlyn Friend and her son were outside in an open field, laying pipes in the ground as part of a water line for the cattle.

Friend’s brother, Woodrow Friend Jr., says they were going to put in one more pipe before the storm came. But that a bolt of lightning came down ahead of the storm, hitting Kathlyn Friend around 7 p.m.

“The lightning strike came very suddenly,” Woodrow Friend said.

Her son performed CPR at the scene before she was rushed to UK Hospital. According to her brother, Friend was then put on life support so her family can say a final goodbye.

Woodrow says his sister is a determined person. “It seems unreal. It seems surreal,” he said. “Lightning is a very unpredictable and dangerous thing."

UK Hospital said Friend remains in critical condition tonight.

Original Story:

A 67-year old woman was struck by lightning Thursday evening while standing in a field on her farm on Crenshaw Lane, just southeast of Wilmore, according to county emergency officials.

The victim's name hasn't been released.

Authorities said she was taken to U.K. Hospital in Lexington.

Numerous trees and power lines were reported down from thunderstorms in Fayette, Jessamine, Scott, Woodford, Madison, Scott, Clark and Bath Counties.

Emergency officials in Montgomery County said high winds damaged a billboard on U.S. 60 near the Fairgrounds entrance.